Page 208 - HKSYU Prospectus 2023-24

Shue Yan University Prospectus 2023-24

COUN 210 Micro-Skills in Counselling and Psychotherapy
1 Term; 3 Credits
This course aims to provide students with opportunities to learn and practise micro-
counselling skills in simulated settings, complemented by counselling and psychotherapy
theories. The course places emphasis on various key microskills, including building rapport
and relationships, conveying empathy, reflecting feelings and content, paraphrasing,
clarification, active listening, summarizing, questioning, focusing, directing, confrontation, and
influencing, and communicating nonverbally. The format of the course follows a laboratory
style, allowing students to become familiar with these skills across different stages of the
counselling process. Students may also have the chance to work with clients from diverse
backgrounds and age groups. Additionally, students will learn how to analyse case
backgrounds, select and apply appropriate microskills accordingly.

COUN 220 Cultural Diversity in Counselling and Psychotherapy
1 Term; 3 Credits
The course aims to enhance students’ general cultural sensitivity and competence in
working with a “diverse” population and to train students to develop critical thinking and insight
about various cultural issues. Specific situations and contextual conditions occurring currently
in Hong Kong will be discussed. The course will also explore the implications of diversity in
psychotherapy and counselling in several ways. First of all, the issues of nomothetic and
idiographic nature regarding human society will be examined and discussed. Secondly, the
interrelatedness of cultural elements, such as personality, implicit assumptions, environmental
cultural communication and cultural factors which affect the practice and utilization of
psychotherapy and counselling across cultures will be addressed and appraised.
Subsequently, the application of scientific inquiry and theoretical knowledge to identify common
themes or elements of psychotherapy and counselling practice that are essential and useful
across cultures will be investigated. Finally, distinct approaches and elements that are primarily
ethno-culturally based are explored so as to facilitate the students to have a better grasp of
both the changes and benefits that cultural diversity brings to counselling practices.

COUN 230 Personal Experience as Counsellee
Non-Credit Bearing
It is our belief that a doctor cannot become a good doctor unless he/she fully
comprehends what it is like to be a patient, and likewise, a counsellor cannot become a good
counsellor until he/she has experienced what it is like to be counselled. Therefore, students
are required to receive by the end of their third year in the degree programme 30 hours of
counselling, including 15 hours of individual counsellee experience and 15 hours of group
counsellee experience. Students may seek counselling service from qualified counsellors
offering psychological counselling. Qualification required can be found in Internship manual,
and students need to seek approval to their counsellors' qualification from the department in
advance. Students should also take note to the potential fee required for counselling services.
Alternatively, students may receive counselling service from Counselling and Research Centre

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